I think a lot of folks have the philosophy that biking is all about maximizing speed and efficiency. And some aspects of the sport are about those things. So when is comes to SS, it just doesn't compute to those folks why you would intentionally limit your speed and efficiency in some (lol, most?) circumstances.

In my experience, the guys who are most focused on things like racing, cadence, speed, efficiency, weight, etc. are the ones least interested in SS. Goofing off and just having fun on a bike with no thought to total elapsed times or calories burned just doesn't compute to them. For the same reason, these are the folks to which all the high-tech components have the most appeal.

Then you have some folks who enjoy both.

Exactly why I chose rigid ss. I used to live in BC with a dirt jumper and down hill bikes. Now that I live in Manitoba with bunny hills as mountains , I opted for rigid ss to make it more interesting. Of course, if I was to participate in a race with determination to win, I would go for suspension and gears without thinking twice.

I was talking to a couple of roadies next to me at an early A.M. spin class today. No big deal that they're roadies, we're all bikers. I mentioned that I ride road and Single Speed MTB. They said " Actually we're anti single speed". ..

Well I can see why roadies are anti-single speed, especially those who are dumbfounded when I cruise past them on climbs with fat tires running SS. Crushing them riding fat tired geared bikes is also fun but slightly less fulfilling

Well I can see why roadies are anti-single speed, especially those who are dumbfounded when I cruise past them on climbs with fat tires running SS. Crushing them riding fat tired geared bikes is also fun but slightly less fulfilling

Being ANTI-anything seems to always come from someone who has no experience with the thing they are so ANTI about.
most singlespeeders used to ride geared bikes but aren't usually ANTI gears. People riding 29ers , for the most part, used to ride 26ers, but aren't anyti 26er, and so on..
The hate always is the person who has never ridden a single speed or never tried a 29er.

All previous replies need to be quoted for a wholesome explanation to the anti ss thing.

I'm sure those anti ss gearies started on a coaster brake bike as kids. And somewhere down the line they became "shiftspoiled".

Thing is that they forget that we ss'ers have our gears too, by way of giving our bodies more advantage via positioning for power, traction, spin, etc.

Yes, we do it by sliding forward or back on the saddle, pulling more or less on the upstroke, dropping heels, rocking body, pulling handlebars, pushing bike, etc, etc...seated. Did i say, standing up? yeah, more rocking, pulling, pushing, diving, etc, etc.

Get fit, dammit.

Gearies just nail themselves to the saddle and tick tock goes the shifter. Lifeless. Boring. Maybe good for a road bike where tuck may help to cheat the wind. On a mtb? Contra natura.

Ohhh ! You climbed that hill? On a singlespeed? Yes i did, and in the process, i left you behind with your tick tock shift thing bruto....(I do love my geared friends questions, though)

Maybe they were so stupid that they thought you only go one speed and they were trying to assert that they like to go all different speeds. The only thing that is obvious is that they were stupid and probably still are even right now.

I entered my first MTB race. It's in 2 weeks. I'm sure there will be very few Single Speeds, if any in the 50-59 age group (better late than never). I am emotionally prepared to get crushed. But it will be interesting to see for myself how SS's compete with geared bikes.

I entered my first MTB race. It's in 2 weeks. I'm sure there will be very few Single Speeds, if any in the 50-59 age group (better late than never). I am emotionally prepared to get crushed. But it will be interesting to see for myself how SS's compete with geared bikes.

Hey man congrats, sign up, line up, and have fun, as far as I'm concerned you already WON!

I too am a little new to the SS thing (29er). Coming off a FS 26er, it is quite a difference. But my intention was to enjoy riding more and to keep me fit. I have also entered my first race of the season and intend to do it on my SS. The worst thing I will probably hear: "Wow, you did that on a SS?" The best thing I won't hear but someone else might hear: "Wow, that guy beat you?! He was on a steel SS!!"

And I have to say, on my normal loop there is a short quick hill that was a tough climb on the FS 26er, thought I was going to have to hike-a-bike with the SS. Nope, right up that hill, no problem. Only thing I miss is traction on a standing climb, the FS was pretty good in that department.

The best thing I won't hear but someone else might hear: "Wow, that guy beat you?! He was on a steel SS!!"
my normal loop there is a short quick hill that was a tough climb on the FS 26er, thought I was going to have to hike-a-bike with the SS. Nope, right up that hill, no problem. Only thing I miss is traction on a standing climb, the FS was pretty good in that department.[/QUOTE]

I've read about how well SS's compete with gears all the time
I'm hoping to do well in my age group and not get a helicopter ride to the E.R.
I know I won't be passing any younger riders on race bikes.